Mountville, PA: High Radon Risk — 53/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Systems across Mountville show elevated violation counts against PA benchmarks — the low safety grade reflects that ongoing compliance pattern.
How Mountville Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Mountville Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 50% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,000 per household.
Water Systems Serving Mountville
Federal drinking water records identify 4 systems in Mountville, PA. The leading 3 providers serve the largest share of residential connections, each operating as a separate entity with its own rate authority, infrastructure management, and EPA compliance obligations — so service conditions are not uniform city-wide.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Mountville, Pennsylvania (population ~7,561), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 166,313 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Mountville — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Mountville: D (53/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Mountville water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Mountville
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17554 | D | CITY OF LANCASTER | 120,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Mountville
- 17554 [D]
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Updated daily.
How Old Is Mountville's Housing Stock?
With 50% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
What does a median build year of 1984 mean for water safety in Mountville? It means the majority of the city's residential plumbing was installed before 1986, when lead solder was federally banned, and a large share may predate 1970, when lead pipes were commonly used — making plumbing age a central variable in household-level lead risk across much of the city.
Over half of homes in Mountville were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Mountville: Remediation Cost in Perspective
In Mountville, the equity share of documented remediation is meaningful enough to move the household financial perspective from routine maintenance into deliberate budgeting territory — the cost-to-value ratio is moderate, and most homeowners benefit from mapping the full scope against available budgets before committing.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Mountville. The estimated $2,000–$4,100 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 27% above the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Mountville
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If 50% of the Mountville inventory comes from before the federal ban on lead-bearing solder — and if utility samples sit at or near 0.015 mg/L — the gap between citywide averages and one specific faucet becomes a practical concern rather than a theoretical one. That is why one-home reads exist as a separate measurement. A certified filter through retailer networks addresses confirmed exposure where it appears in a household.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Mountville
FEMA data shows 100% of Mountville's ZIP codes mapped into designated flood zones, paired with an NFIP record of 8 claims. That footprint places local flood exposure in the range where it warrants attention without rising to high-severity planning territory.
Mountville has a moderate flood history with 8 FEMA claims averaging $16,842 per payout. 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$3,000</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
What You Can Do in Mountville
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages — your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 50% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Mountville, PA